Date of Award
Winter 2009
Project Type
Thesis
Program or Major
Natural Resources: Wildlife
Degree Name
Master of Science
First Advisor
John A Litvaitis
Abstract
Early-successional habitats are valuable to wildlife species and susceptible to invasive shrubs, possibly negatively affecting biodiversity of whole communities. Insects provide energy links between plants and wildlife, thus, change in insect communities due to invasive shrubs may have detrimental impacts on wildlife---especially nesting songbirds. I gauged how invasive shrubs affect insect abundance, richness, and phenology using flight-intercept trapping and beat/sweeping methods. Lepidopteran larvae were provided a choice to consume native or invasive shrub foliage. Invasive shrubs negatively affected communities with reduced insect abundance and richness on individual shrubs as well as the entire habitat. Lepidopteran larvae preferred native shrub foliage over invasive, and also displayed higher survival rates when consuming native shrub foliage. Insects are either unable or unwilling to consume invasive shrubs, meaning a reduction of food for insect consumers. Nesting songbirds may abandon early-successional habitats or have to expand their territory size in order to find food.
Recommended Citation
Fickenscher, Johanna L., "Insect responses to invasive shrubs in early-successional habitats" (2009). Master's Theses and Capstones. 521.
https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis/521